Stargazers, get ready for a dazzling celestial show!

The Orionids meteor shower is set to reach its peak tonight, October 21, 2023. Under ideal conditions, skywatchers can expect to see up to 20 meteors per hour streaking across the sky.

The Orionids are caused by debris from Halley’s Comet, which orbits the Sun every 76 years. As Earth passes through the comet’s debris trail, tiny particles of dust and ice enter our atmosphere and burn up, creating streaks of light in the sky.

The best time to see the Orionids is between midnight and dawn. The meteors will appear to radiate from a point in the constellation Orion, which is located in the southeastern sky. However, they can be seen anywhere in the sky.

To maximize your chances of seeing the Orionids, find a dark location away from city lights. Lie on your back and relax your eyes. It may take a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Once they have, you should be able to see meteors streaking across the sky.

If you’re lucky, you may even see a fireball, which is a brighter and more colorful meteor. Fireballs can be as bright as planets or even the Moon.

So bundle up, grab a blanket, and head outside tonight to enjoy the Orionids meteor shower!

Tips for viewing the Orionids meteor shower:

• Find a dark location away from city lights.
• Lie on your back and relax your eyes.
• Give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness.
• Be patient. It may take a few minutes to see a meteor.
• If you’re using a camera, set it to a long exposure time to capture the streaks of light from the meteors.

Enjoy the show!

Source